On November 28, North Korea conducted what is believed to be its third test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Launched from the vicinity of Pyongsong, South Pyongan Province, the missile flew for 50 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan in Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The South Korean military said the missile reached...
On October 31, Seoul and Beijing agreed to end a year-long dispute over the deployment of a U.S. THAAD battery in South Korea. Following South Korea’s decision to deploy the missile defense system, China targeted ROK retail, tourism, cosmetics, and entertainment industries that rely heavily on the Chinese market and customers. “Both sides shared the...
On October 24, the United States, South Korea (ROK), and Japan began a joint missile early warning exercise. Although no missiles will be fired, the two-day joint exercise has mobilized four Aegis Combat System-equipped ships to practice detecting and tracking computer-simulated North Korean ballistic missiles. The USS Stethem (DDG 63) and the USS Milius (DDG...
On October 22, U.S. and South Korea (ROK) forces worked overnight to complete the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) battery deployment in Seongju, located 300 km south of Seoul. The 35th Air Defense Artillery brigade, the unit charged with manning the system, is set to be joined by additional U.S. and ROK troops to...
On September 15, North Korea fired what is believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido for the second time in a month. Launched from Sunan just north of Pyongyang, the missile flew for 19 minutes, traveling 3,700 km, reaching an altitude of 770 km, and landing 2,200...
On September 12, the South Korean Air Force conducted its first live-fire test of the Taurus air-to-surface cruise missile. The missile, air-launched from an F-15K fighter jet, flew over 400 km and successfully navigated several obstacles at low altitude before hitting a target off South Korea’s western coast. Part of South Korea’s “Kill Chain” air...
On September 4, South Korea’s military conducted two live-fire exercises following North Korea’s nuclear test the previous day. The first exercise was a joint drill by the ROK Army and Air Force involving F-15K fighter jets, SLAM-ER missiles, and land-based Hyunmoo-2A ballistic missiles that simulated an attack on North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site. On...
The South Korean Ministry of Defense announced that the U.S. military will be allowed to install four more THAAD launchers at the site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province after the Ministry of Environment concluded that the full deployment would have only a small impact on the people and neighboring environment. This decision comes after the...
On July 24, reports indicated that the South Korean government is pushing to revise its missile guidelines developed with the United States. Officials working under President Moon Jae-in are hoping to increase the maximum weight of ROK ballistic missile warheads from the current 500 kg to 1,000 kg. South Korean officials argue that these revisions...
On June 26, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) deployed more than 10 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) to South Korea for use by U.S. Air Force F-16 fighters. The JASSM is a conventional, stealthy, air-launched ground attack cruise missile with a standard range of 370 km. There also exists an extended range version which can...
